Olympic Peninsula --- Oregon

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Driving into Oregon on HWY-101 was a breathtaking experience. The highway winds through the rugged coastline, offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and steep cliffs. As I drove south towering trees lined the road, providing a canopy that seemed to go on forever. The photo above was taken at one of the many roadside pullouts along HWY-101 which also make great spots to enjoy a night of sleeping next to the ocean!

Portland

My first stop in Oregon was the lovely city of Portland! The city is nestled into the Willamette River valley and offers a unique blend of urban life and natural beauty. I enjoyed views of the city from my bike as I rode along the river bank, passing under more than a dozen bridges that connect the two sides of the river.

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I made a stop at Voodoo Donut after my bike ride. This donut shop is known for its "Voodoo Doll" donut which is shaped like a doll, filled with raspberry jelly, and completed with a pretzel stick stabbed in the side! The donut was delicious and the shop is a must-visit destination if you are ever in Portland!

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The final night that I spent in Portland there was a Trailblazers vs. Lakers game happening and the tickets were ONLY $20!! I parked my car a few miles away and biked (on wonderfully marked bike lanes) the rest of the way to the Moda Center for the game. I had a great time at the game and it was nice to have an evening activity that got me out of the van!

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Eugene

The next few days I spent off of HWY-101 as I traveled down the Willamette River Valley to Eugene. I stopped for hikes along the river and even found a stunning view of the sunset on Spencer Butte! sunset hikeMountains sunset

The shadow of Spencer Butte extended over the valley as the sun went down.

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I spent the next 2 days exploring the quirky city of Eugene, complete with a visit to the Duck store. Walking around the city brought back lots of good memories from 2012 when I visited with the MN Boychoir for PICC FEST(Pacific International Childrens Choir Festival!) After a lovely weekend in Eugene, I headed east toward the city of Florence so I could reunite with the lovely HWY-101. Passing through Florence I crossed the historic Siuslaw River Bridge which is one of five bridges that completed the Oregon Coast Highway(HWY-101) in 1934.

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Oregon has sand dunes?!

I was officially back on HWY-101 and heading south when I saw a sign for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area only 4 miles ahead and I knew that I had to stop. I had no idea that Oregon boasts one of the largest areas of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world! The dunes are flanked by the ocean to the west and forests to the east creating a unique landscape that was eerily beautiful.

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I enjoyed the sunset over the ocean and a quick dinner before getting back on the road to find a nice pull-off for a good night's sleep.

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Cape Blanco & Costal Drives

Driving into Cape Blanco put me at the westernmost point of Oregon. The headland is largely known for its white cliffs, stunning ocean views, and the historic lighthouse which was first lit in 1870 and is still in operation to this day. The Cape Blanco Trail offered breathtaking views of the ocean and the surrounding coastline.

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The next few days I spent hopping around the coast and enjoying the views from everyone's favorite HWY-101 pull-offs and was even able to capture some of the stars over the ocean.

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This was the bay view that I spent my last morning in Oregon enjoying before heading towards Crescent city and the start of my time in California! sunriseBay

NEXT TIME ON THE BLOG...

I hike through Redwoods and lose power steering on the Avenue of the Giants!!